St James Catholic Church

We gather together today before the Lord and along side of one another to listen to God’s word and to share in the Eucharistic meal.  In remembrance of Jesus’ wonderful gift of his very self, we join in communion with the Church around the world.  We also celebrate this weekend the anniversary of our country’s founding July 4, 1776.  On this Independence Day we express our appreciation for our freedom to worship as we desire, while continually working to build a more perfect union.

Realizing the dream of our founding ancestors is one of our chief responsibilities as citizens of this country.  We must recapture its content, keep it alive and work for its fulfillment.  Speaking and living the word of God can be tough.  God warns Ezekiel in our first reading that he will need to speak out against a stubborn and rebellious people.  St. Paul in our second reading, speaks of the hardship he faces.  Jesus in the Gospel meets with opposition when preaching and teaching in His hometown.  Speaking out on behalf of our faith can be as difficult for us now as it was for them.  But we know that we have the power of Christ dwelling within us.

The dream that begun 245 years ago is now our responsibility and duty.  Freedom is not built on majority rules, but its concern for the rights of all minority as well.  A dream about a place where all kinds of people and colors could be molded into one nation.  The motto on our coins is “out of many-one”  America has called her children from every country under the sun.  We are all immigrants.  Unity is a continual challenge to fulfill in our constitution.  And finally, its about our destiny.  It is the heritage we must rekindle among us, a sense of responsibility under Gods holding in trust from something full of promises for the whole world.  God said to Abraham, “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  On this anniversary weekend let us renew that American dream for our nation and the entire world.

Love, Peace, Joy,

-Fr. Bob